hey i just took the SAT and this is crazy but here's my question so help me maybe

Test Preparation
1

<p>Hi, I am using an old psat test, and here is the writing question that i do not understand.</p>

<p>Different kinds of blood cells have (a different life span) in the bloodstream: red cells (last) about three months, platelets (about) ten days, and white cells anywhere from days (to) years. (no error)</p>

<p>a. a different life span
b. last
c. about
d. to
e. no error</p>

<p>I know it is A, but why? is it parallel structure. Different kinds of blood cells have different kinds of lifespans? If it is so , please explain. I still do not filly comprehend parallel structure! THANKS</p>

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<p>not filly fully*</p>

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<p>Because it is “different kinds of blood cells” (emphasis on the plural) using the singular article “a” doesn’t make sense and breaks the parallel structure.</p>

<p>I believe it should be “different kinds of blood cells have different life spans.”</p>

4

<p>“Different kinds of blood cells have different kinds of lifespans?”</p>

<p>Yes it is A because it should be plural and say different kinds. The reason for the error lies in the fact that the sentence is describing several life spans (each for different cells). Therefore, since the sentences deal with more than one life span, then “kind” should be changed to “kinds”.</p>

5

<p>The police reprimanded everyone at the graduation party, they didn’t seem very sympathetic to the fact that it was our senior year.
(A) at the graduation party, they didn’t seem very sympathetic to the fact that it was our senior year
(B) at the graduation party, seemingly the fact that it was our senior year did not make them sympathetic
(C) at the graduation party without being sympathetic to the fact that it was our senior year
(D) at the graduation party they didn’t, despite the fact that it was our senior year, seem very sympathetic
(E) at the graduation party; they didn’t seem very sympathetic to the fact that it was our senior year </p>

<p>my other question… Can’t E and C both be correct and is everyone the referent for the our later on in the sentence. The “it” in it is our senior year is an expletive pronoun right?</p>

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<p>PLEASE will a kind soul answer my question. i know a lot of people have been looking at this!</p>

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<p>(A) must be “different life spans” since the cells do not share a single life span. It’s a noun-noun disagreement, a la “my sister and I both want to grow up to be a doctor.”</p>